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Sunday, January 31, 2010

I have spent many, many hours planning our summer vacation for this year. However, it appears that it is next to impossible to cover all the places we want to visit, see all we want to see, in the allowed time we will have and not break the bank in the process.

So, we are looking at taking our trip to Niagra Falls during spring break which is March 20th - 28th.

I was wondering if any of my bloggy friends has ever visited Niagra Falls during the winter months. What is open? Was it enjoyable? Would you go again during this time of year?

I would greatly appreciate any and all information, opinions, experiences and whatever else you have to offer me.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

At the end of 2009, there were some prayers that hadn't been answered, goals that hadn't been meet and desire that haven't been fulfilled yet. So...my outlook going into 2010 was CHANGE. I longed for 2010 to be a year of change...permanent change...not ones that you do for a couple of weeks or months but rather for a lifetime.

I was reminded on Saturday just how fragile life is and how quickly it could be over...either mine, my husband, parents or children. An old friend from my hometown has 3 beautiful daughters with the youngest being 24 years old. Her name is Dani (after her father) had a brain aneurysm at 2 AM on Saturday morning, rushed to the hospital with no brain activity and she died at 8:30 PM on Saturday evening. She left 2 beautiful, young children...a daughter and a son. Her family's life and her children's life changed forever in that instant.

I want to make the best of my life, time with my husband, children and grandson, take better care of myself and love those around me to the fullest because I never know when I will draw my last breath...it could be in an instant and without warning.

Our Sunday morning sermon was based on our new mission statement for 2010...DESTINED TO WIN IN 2010. Our vision statement is an acrostic of the word RIVER.

God had already began to stir in my spirit the changes that He wants to do in my life and my family. I have had several desires or goals running around in my head but just hadn't put them down on paper yet.

It wasn't until I turned off the TV and the lights at 11 PM tonight to go to sleep that I began to put it all together. I sat up, turned on the light, got my pad and pen and went to writing. Then, while it was still burning inside me...I decided to write a blog post about it. So, here I am at midnight Sunday night/Monday morning...keep that in mind when you read my first goal. lol

Pastor Rusty laid out the acrostic this morning for us but do you see how perfectly God had already begun to work these very things into my spirit. After I wrote out all my goals, then I felt the prompting in my spirit to get my sermon notes back out and see where God was taking me on the journey in 2010.

John 7:37-38On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. (38) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

This is what I jotted down tonight.PERSONAL GOALS FOR 20101. Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night (well, not tonight but tomorrow)2. Walk 3 x a week3. Do Wii Fit 2-3 x a week4. Drink 3 bottles of water a day5. Don't eat after 7 PM (this will be a challege for me...love to snack in bed)6. Learn a new hobby or interest7. Nurture friendships more8. Waste less time daily and use my free time more wisely9. Simplify my lifeSPIRITUAL GOALS1. Spend more time in the Word2. Memorize scripture3. Spend more time in prayer4. Step out of my comfort zone 5. Tap into my spiritual gifts and use themHOME GOALS1. Get organized2. Plan our meals in advance3. Make a workable/doable schedule4. Cook meals at least 4 x a week (I don't like to cook)5. Get rid of any clutter6. Work on my projects to completion7. Do home repairs that need doingFINANCIAL GOALS1. Stick to our budget2. Find new ways to save money3. Increase our givingFAMILY GOALS1. More quality family time with our children2. Spend more time with our grandson3. Eat our meals at the table and not the TV!4. Family devotionsMARRIAGE GOALS1. More quality time alone without the TV2. Date nights/days at least every 2 weeks3. Weekend getaways every couple months4. Devotions and praying togetherWORK GOALS1. Get better organized2. Clean out the office/work closet and files3. Be more efficientI believe these are the changes that God wants to see in my life, home, family, marriage, spirit and job. But, not only does God want to see them...but these are the desires of my heart as well. Our desire over the past few years has been to simplify our lives, get back to the basics and not have to work all the time to pay our bills but to pay off our bills and have more time to spend together as a family.I need you to help hold me accountable in 2010. I love you guys and I pray that these goals will free up some time that I can get back to blogging on a more regular basis. I love you guys!

Friday, January 22, 2010

It has been a long hard week! My sweet hubby has been out of town all week for his job. I got sick again this week with bronchitis and Tyler came down with a sinus infection. Yikes!

Today...there was the light at the end of the tunnel cause my honey was coming home. I called him when I was on my way to the office that I work for (45 minutes away) to pick up my work and my paycheck (can you say...yeah!) when I tried to call my hubby again to see if he had landed yet.

He went with his boss and another co-worker to school several hours away but his boss has his own plane and is a pilot...so, they flew. Now, I'm not a huge fan of flying in a jet much less anything smaller than that...so, I was nervous because this is the first time that he has flown with his boss.

You see, I haven't thought about this in a long time...until this week. But, I believe that what goes up...must come down. I just want it to come down in the manner it was intended to. I have a "slight" fear of flying because 16 days before my 21st birthday...I crashed in a helicopter. Since then...I really prefer my feet to stay on the ground but I do fly from time to time. However, I am a big time "white knuckle" flyer on take offs and landings. :) The enemy tried to mess with my head this week, however, there is nothing that God and I can't handle together. That must have come as a surprise to the enemy this week because he wasn't able to get me all worked up. Surprise #1.

So, my second surprise was...my hubby answered his cell phone when I called, was safely on the ground again and coming home. And, my final surprise (#3) was sweet and has made me smile all night.

I have this amazing, sweet, giving and ever so talented bloggy sister named Angie who sent me a goodie package of her homemade, organic soaps.

When I pulled into my driveway...I saw a box sitting outside of my garage. I immediately knew who it was from and couldn't wait to open it.

Can I tell you...oh, my goodness...they smell wonderful and I can't wait to try them.

Oh, Angie...I love the lip balm!!! Thank you so very, very much for my sweet package. I will pamper myself and hide them so the guys don't get into them. lol

Angie...you and having my hubby coming home tonight....was a sweet closure to a rough week.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

(In The Message)A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

My heart is singing praises this morning! I finally got into see the heart specialist yesterday afternoon after many rescheduled appointments. After having an EKG done, giving extensive medical history, symptoms and life events...Dr. Porterfield has ruled that my problems with my heart appear benign.

He said that based on my 1st EKG that was done locally when my heart was "skipping" a beat shows that it is coming from the right, lower chamber of the heart. He said that it feels like it is "skipping" a beat but it is technically having an "extra beat" thrown in. When the "extra" beat occurs in the right, lower chamber then it is considered benign.

After telling him that I have noticed several things that trigger these episodes, which are: stress, anxiety, OTC cold medications and sickness...he concurred that these are the very things that cause PVCs in the right, lower chamber. He diagnosed it as PVC (premature ventricular contractions due to situational events) and we would just watch them. He confirmed our decisions for certain lifestyle changes ie. simplified life with less stress and more quality family time would be very helpful.

He will see me back in 6 months unless I have more episodes accompanied with other symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pains, fainting or any other unusual symptom. At that time, we might do a Heart Stress Test and Echo Cardiogram just for precautionary measures.

I really loved Dr. Porterfield! He was a very sweet man with a calming demeanor. He said that if he thought there was anything else going on...he'd say so and order the necessary test to rule out heart disease but he felt completely comfortable with his diagnosis and assessment. So do I!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Are you fighting a losing battle today? Is there a situation that seems impossible right now in your life? Is there an adversary whether in the spirit or in the flesh lurking in the shadows to cause harm to you or your family?

No matter how hard you try to get ahead in your job, to get that promotion, be recognized as a valued employee, get a raise...someone or something keeps knocking you back down or holding you back from advancement?

Is there someone (co-worker, friend, church member, family member) who "plays" nicey nice to your face but buries the knife in your back the first opportunity they can

Is there a neighbor who is envious of what they "think" you have or the life they "assume" you live and bad mouths you to others?

Does it seem the harder you try to get out of debt, the more unexpected and costly things keep happening in your life?

Have the doctors have said "there is no cure, we've done all we can, we can't change what is happening to you"?

Is there a family member who is constantly stirring up strife in your family, calling you out and putting you down?

Do you have a "friend" who has betrayed your trust and confidence that you put in them and told your deepest secrets to others?

Have you or are you are being unfairly sued for something that you didn't do?

Is your spouse is unwilling to put your marriage and your family first?

Are your children are under attack by others at school and they are saying mean, vindictive things to and about your child?

Have you finally begun to see the light at the end of the financial tunnel when the pipes burst due to cold weather, the furnace went out, the car's engine messed up, your hours got cut at work, you or your spouse lost your job, there was an medical emergency or something that attacked your finances again?

Is your teenager(s) are rebelling, refusing to comply with the rules of your home, acting out, being verbally abusive to you as a parent?

Is your child is starting to hang around undesirable crowds, their grades are dropping and you can't seem to get through to them?

Do you feel like you are sinking into a black hole of depression and there is no life line to grab on to ?

Do you have adult children who are not living for the Lord and refuse to heed your warnings, refuse to go to church but instead say they love the life that they are living?

These are just some of the things that have either happened in my own personal life, in a friend's life, family member's life or worse case scenero situations.

In my Bible reading yesterday, I read Psalm 35. I posted a couple of scriptures on my Facebook but I couldn't get away from the impact those verses had on me.

I began to think about all the situations that I listed above and there are so many more and when I thought of these...I felt like I was drowning...fighting a losing battle.

This is exactly the position that the enemy wants us to be in...feeling vunerable, weak, helpless, lost, defeated. BUT, that is not what the Word of God says.

Can you picture this? As a Child of God...when someone comes against you with our cause and attacks you or your family...God immediately goes to battle for you.

Psalms 35:1-2Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. (2) Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.

vs. 4-6May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. (5) May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; (6) may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

vs. 7-8 (These scriptures we stood on during a lawsuit & God delivered the victory)Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, (8) may ruin overtake them by surprise - may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

Isaiah 54:17 (Message)but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged. Any accuser who takes you to court will be dismissed as a liar. This is what GOD's servants can expect. I'll see to it that everything works out for the best." GOD's Decree.

2 Corninthians 10:3-5 NIV)For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

I've always heard it said..."it is the darkest before the dawn" and I know for a fact that in those very dark hours, days, weeks, months and even, years...you want to give up, quit, throw in the towel BUT, all God ask us to do is to give it to Him and let Him fight our battles for us.

The sun will shine again and only because we allow the Son to shine into our darkest hours...the enemy has to flee because he can't handle the light...God's light, His Son will shine brightly so that we can see the right path to take and He will guide us every step of the way out of the dark and into the light.

Today, it is my choice to allow God to fight my battles, the unjust attacks made on me and my family, the ugly things that are said behind my back to others (whether I ever know of them or not), my financial situations, my marriage, my children and every attack that the enemy brings in whatever form he chooses to use...God has a counter attack already in place and waiting for me to relinquish the control, turn it all over to Him and FIGHT THE ENEMY FOR ME. I am no longer fighting a losing battle but I AM WINNING THE WAR, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Our household woke up to snow on the ground this morning but the question of the day in our home was: Is there enough snow to keep us out of school for the day. Well, that seemed to be the question in every household in our school district because we were the only ones in the Tri-State area that didn't have school openings or closings on our local TV weather channel, radio station or internet.

You talk about a bunch of frustrated parents in our school district...well, we were. In my 19+ years in this school district, there has ALWAYS been one or the other on Channel 3 news...very early in the morning so you know what you have to do with your children for the day.

As for me, it didn't matter either way and it is one day that we won't have to make up later but, it would have been nice to turn on the TV and see that we were going to school this morning rather than scrambling calling other parents and teachers to see if anyone else knew for sure. All the while still guessing that we were open before heading out on slushy/icy roads to get Ty to school on time.

My concern is the parents that have to go into work after dropping off their children off on a regular, good weather, perfect road condition day. If they had to leave earlier than normal to get to work safely in these conditions, then they would have had to leave home way before children were allowed to be dropped off at school. If school was cancelled, then they would have had to find daycare for their younger children before heading into work.

I think, it was very inconsiderate of our school district to not announce our opening or closing with everyone else today. Who dropped the ball? Our new superintendent? If it wasn't him, then he needs to find out who it was.

My suggestion: GET WITH THE PROGRAM...LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT...YOU AREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT HAD TO GO TO WORK TODAY!!!

Keep in mind that the South is NEVER prepared for a little snow, ice or freezing rain like the North is...believe me! Usually, a few flakes and we are out of school for the day.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

I was reading in God's Word this morning and as many times as I have read over these scriptures...they haven't ever jumped off the page like they did today.

We pray and trust God to meet our needs but how many times do we pray for things expecting God to do His part but we are willing to sacrifice things for Him that He asks us to do.?

We must do our part so God can do His part. Our part is in green and His part is in yellow.

Psalms 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. (4) Delight yourself inthe LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (5) Commit your way to the LORD;trust in him and he will do this:

I want to reap all of God's blessings and benefits in my life, therefore, my goal this year is to do all that He requires me to do and serve Him fully.

My Teenager:)

Our Handsome Son

Our Family Trip

Handsome Grandson, Mason

Beautiful Daughters

My Sweet, Sweet Little Girl

My Precious Baby Girl, Biscuit

Our Precious Daughter & Grandson

Mason & Ryan

Our Daughter and Son-in-law

Sommer & Jim

My Wonderful Family

Ty, Me, Brandon, Ryan, Mason, Sommer & Jim Christmas '07

In My Life

I want to share with you the struggles that I/we have faced in my/our life and the battles that have been won throughJesus Christ...in an ordinaryChristian woman's life. Many times, we see/anticipate the attacks that the enemy launches at us but often times...we get blindsided. I feel that there are a few situations that I/we have not faced and those, I pray that I never have to experience. The things that I want to share are situations, reactions, consequences and outcomes in my life....these may not be the same situations that you have dealt with or dealing with or how you have reacted but if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior...the end is the same...He promises in...Hebrews 13:5.... "I will NEVER leave younor forsake you"and He is in control....ALWAYS.